Tertiary aminoacids in the treatment of pain

ABSTRACT

New α-(cyclic tert. aminophenyl)-aliphatic acids, e.g. those of the formula ##STR1## and functional derivatives thereof, are anti-inflammatory agents.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 307,293 filed on Nov. 16,1972, which is, in turn, a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.181,564, filed Sept. 17, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,805, which inturn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 40,436, filed May25, 1970, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 8,406, filed Feb. 3, 1970, now abandoned, which inturn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 856,154, filedSept. 8, 1969 (now abandoned), which in turn is a continuation-in-partof application Ser. No. 843,244, filed July 18, 1969 (now U.S. Pat. No.3,641,040), which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 808,343, filed Mar. 18, 1969, now abandoned which in turn is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 790,863, filed Jan. 13,1969 (now abandoned), which in turn is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 757,136, filed Sept. 3, 1968 (now U.S. Pat. No.3,657,230), which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 716,347, filed Mar. 27, 1968 (now abandoned).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns and has for its object the provision ofnew α-(cyclic tert. aminophenyl)-aliphatic acids, more particularly ofthose corresponding to Formula I ##STR2## in which R₁ is hydrogen orlower alkyl, R₂ is hydrogen, lower alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl or cycloalkenyl-alkyl, Ph is a phenyleneradical and ##STR3## is a bicyclic lower alkenyleneimino groupcontaining 1-3 double bonds, or therapeutically acceptable functionalacid or amino derivatives thereof, as well as of correspondingpharmaceutical compositions and of methods for the preparation andapplication of these products, which are useful antiinflammatory agentsin the treatment or management of arthritic and dermatopathologicconditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The lower alkyl radicals R₁ or R₂ represent, for example, methyl, ethyl,n- or i-propyl, -butyl, -pentyl, -hexyl or -heptyl. A lower alkenylradical R₂ is, for example, vinyl, allyl, methallyl, 3-butenyl or1-pentenyl. The term "lower", referred to above and hereinafter inconnection with organic radicals or compounds respectively, defines suchwith up to 7, preferably up to 4, carbon atoms.

A cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl radical R₂ is preferably 3 to 7ring-membered and unsubstituted or substituted by up to 4 lower alkyls,such as cyclopropyl, 1- or 2-methyl-cyclopropyl, 1,2-, 2,2- or2,3-dimethyl-cyclopropyl, 1,2,2- or 1,2,3-trimethylcyclopropyl or2,2,3,3-tetramethyl-cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, 3,3-dimethyl-cyclobutyl or2,2,3-trimethyl-cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, 2- or 3-methyl-cyclopentyl,2,5- or 3,4-dimethyl-cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 2-, 3- or4-methyl-cyclohexyl, 2,3-,2,4- or 3,5-dimethylcyclohexyl or2,4,6-trimethyl-cyclohexyl or cycloheptyl; 2-cyclopropenyl,2,3-dimethyl-2-cyclopropenyl, 1-, 2- or 3-cyclopentenyl or-cyclohexenyl, 2- or 3-methyl-2-cyclopentenyl,3,4-dimethyl-3-cyclopentenyl or 2-, 3- or 4-methyl-1 or 2-cyclohexenyl.A cycloalkyl-lower alkyl or cycloalkenyl-lower alkyl radical R₂ is oneof the above-mentioned lower alkyl groups, preferably such with up to 4carbon atoms, having in any position thereof, preferably at the terminalcarbon atom, one of said cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl radicals attached,e.g. cyclopropylmethyl, 2-cyclopentylethyl or 3-cyclopentenylmethyl.

The phenylene radical Ph, carrying the tertiary amino group ##STR4## inthe 2-, preferably 3- or especially 4-position, is unsubstituted orsubstituted in the remaining positions by one or more than one,preferably one or two, of the same or different substituents selected,for example, from lower alkyl, e.g. methyl, ethyl, n- or i-propyl or-butyl, free, etherified or esterified hydroxy or mercapto, such aslower alkoxy or lower alkylmercapto, e.g. methoxy, ethoxy, n- ori-propoxy or -butoxy, methylmercapto or ethylmercapto, or halogeno, e.g.fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo; trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino, preferablydi-lower alkylamino or lower alkanoylamino, e.g. dimethylamino,N-methyl-N-ethylamino, diethylamino, di-n- or i-propylamino or-butylamino; acetylamino or pivaloylamino; furthermore cyano, carbamoyl,di-lower alkylcarbamoyl, carboxy, lower alkylsulfonyl, sulfo, sulfamoylor di-lower alkylsulfamoyl, e.g. N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl or -sulfamoyl,methyl- or ethylsulfonyl. More particularly, the phenylene radical Phespecially represents 1,3- or 1,4-phenylene, but also (lower alkyl)-1,3-or 1,4-phenylene, (lower alkoxy)-1,3- or 1,4-phenylene, mono- ordi-(halogeno)-1,3- or 1,4-phenylene, (trifluoromethyl)-1,3- or1,4-phenylene, (nitro)-1,3- or 1,4-phenylene, (amino)-1,3- or1,4-phenylene or (di-lower alkylamino)-1,3- or 1,4-phenylene.

The cyclic tertiary amino group ##STR5## is preferably a bicyclic loweralkenyleneimino group containing 5- or 6-membered rings, at most onenitrogen atom in each ring and 1-3 double bonds in the ring notcontaining the imino nitrogen, e.g. 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindolino or-isoindolino, 4,7-dihydroindolino or -isoindolino, indolino,isoindolino, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-, 1,2,3,4-5,8-hexahydro- or1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolino or -isoquinolino; 1-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridyl,2-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyridyl or 6-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridyl. Said cyclic tert.amino groups are unsubstituted or substituted, for example, in thearomatic portion as shown for Ph above, and in the aliphatic portionespecially by one or two lower alkyl, free, etherified or esterifiedhydroxy or mercapto, e.g. lower alkoxy, halogeno, lower alkanoyloxy, oxoand/or thiono groups.

Therapeutically acceptable functional derivatives of the acids ofFormula I are preferably their esters, for example, their lower alkyl,lower alkenyl, 3 to 7 ring-membered cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl,cycloalkyl-lower alkyl or cycloalkenyl-lower alkyl, aryl or aralkylesters, e.g. the HPh or HPh-lower alkyl esters, free or etherifiedhydroxy-lower alkyl, e.g. lower alkoxy- or 3 to 7 ring-memberedcycloalkoxy-lower alkyl or tert. amino-lower alkyl esters, of which theesterifying moiety has been exemplified above and if it contains heteroatoms, these are separated from each other and the carboxy oxygen by atleast 2, preferably 2 or 3 carbon atoms. A tertiary amino group thereinis, for example, di-lower alkylamino or lower alkyleneimino, e.g.dimethylamino, diethylamino, pyrrolidino or piperidino, or monoaza-,monooxa or monothia-lower alkyleneimino, such as piperazino, 4-loweralkyl-piperazino, e.g. 4-(methyl or ethyl)-piperazino, morpholino orthiamorpholino. Other functional derivatives of the acids of Formula Iare, for example, unsubstituted or substituted amides or thioamides,e.g. mono- or di-lower alkylamides, HPh-amides, HPh-lower alkylamides,monocyclic lower alkyleneamides, monoaza-, monooxa- or monothia-loweralkyleneamides, furthermore the corresponding thioamides, hydroxamicacids, nitriles, ammonium or metal salts. Amino derivatives are theN-oxide, lower alkyl- or HPh-lower alkyl quaternaries and acid additionsalts.

The compounds of the invention possess valuable pharmacologicalproperties. Besides analgesic and antifungal activity, they exhibitanti-inflammatory effects, as can be demonstrated in in vitro or animaltests, using for the latter advantageously mammals, such as mice, ratsor guinea pigs as test objects. The former tests can be performedaccording to the gradient plate method with fungi selected, for example,from Trichophyton, Microsporum or Epidermophyton, e.g. T.mentagrophytes, T. rubrum or T. sinii; M. canis or M. gypseum; or E.floccosum. The antifungal activity can also be observed in vivo, e.g.according to Molinas, J. Investig. Dermatol. 25, 33 (1955), where guineapigs are infected on the shaven back with a homogenous agar suspensionof a 10 day old culture of T. mentagrophytes grown on Sabouraud's agar.Treatment with 0.5-2% medicated solutions or ointments is started after24 hours and continued once daily for 10 days. During this time,portions of hair and skin skales are taken from 5 different sites of theinfected area and subcultured on Mycosel agar plates, which areincubated and examined for growth. The analgesic effects can bedemonstrated, for example, according to the mouse writhing test,described inter alia by Siegmund et al. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol & Med. 95,729 (1957) at oral doses between about 50 and 200 mg/kg/day.Anti-inflammatory activity can be shown, for example, according toWinter et al, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. & Med. 111, 544 (1962). There, thecompounds of the invention are applied, in the form of aqueous solutionsor suspensions, which may contain carboxymethylcellulose or polyethyleneglycol as solubilizers, by stomach tube to male and female mature rats,in the dosage range between about 0.1 and 75 mg/kg/day, preferablybetween about 0.5 and 50 mg/kg/day, advantageously between about 1 and25 mg/kg/day. About 1 hour later 0.06 ml of a 1% aqueous salinesuspension of carrageenin is injected into the rat's left hind paw and3-4 hours subsequently any anti-inflammatory activity can be expressedby the difference of the volume and/or weight of the edematous left pawand that of the right paw, as compared with said difference estimatedfrom untreated control animals. According to the adjuvant arthritistest, male rats are sensitized with 0.05 ml of said 1% carrageeninsuspension, applied under ether anesthesia to all four paws. After 24hours 0.1 ml of a 1% suspension of M. butyricum in mineral oil isinjected intradermally into the tail and 7 days later the compounds ofthe invention are applied as shown above for a 14 day period. The ratsare weighed once weekly and the secondary arthritic lesions scored 3times a week as to number and severity. The results obtained arecompared with those of untreated arthritic rats. In view of the testresults obtained, the compounds of the invention are useful analgesic,antifungal and especially antiinflammatory agents in the treatment ormanagement of arthritic and dermatopathologic conditions. They are alsouseful intermediates in the preparation of other valuable products,preferably of pharmacologically active compounds.

Preferred compounds of the invention are those of Formula I in which:

(a) R₁ is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R₂ is hydrogen, lower alkyl or loweralkenyl, Ph is unsubstituted phenylene or phenylene substituted by oneor two members selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl,hydroxy, mercapto, lower alkoxy, lower alkylmercapto, halogeno,trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino, di-lower alkylamino, lower alkanoylamino,cyano, carbamoyl, di-lower alkyl-carbamoyl, carboxy, loweralkylsulfonyl, sulfo, sulfamoyl or di-lower alkyl-sulfamoyl, and thegroup ##STR6## is bicyclic alkenyleneimino containing 5 or 6-memberedrings, at most one nitrogen atom in each ring and 1-3 double bonds inthe ring not containing the imino nitrogen, which alkenyleneimino groupsare unsubstituted or substituted in the aliphatic portion by one or twolower alkyl or oxo groups and in the aromatic portion by one or twomembers listed for Ph;

(b) R₁, Ph and ##STR7## have the meaning give under item a) and R₂ is 3to 7 ring-membered cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyl-lower alkyl orcycloalkenyl-lower alkyl, or a lower alkyl ester, lower alkenyl ester, 3to 7 ring-membered cycloalkyl ester, cycloalkenyl ester,cycloalkyl-lower alkyl ester, cycloalkenyl-lower alkyl ester, HPh-ester,HPh-lower alkyl ester, hydroxy-lower alkyl ester, lower alkoxy-loweralkyl ester, di-lower alkylamino-lower alkyl ester, loweralkyleneimino-lower alkyl ester, monoaza-, -oxa- or -thia-loweralkyleneimino-lower alkyl ester or ##STR8## lower alkyl ester in whichesters 2 hetero atoms are separated from each other by at least 2 carbonatoms, the amide, thioamide, a mono- or di-lower alkylamide, mono- ordi-lower alkyl-thioamide, lower alkyleneamide, lower alkylenethioamide,HPh-amide, HPh-thioamide, HPh-lower alkylamide, HPh-loweralkylthioamide, morpholide, thiamorpholide or hydroxamic acid, theN-oxide, a lower alkyl quaternary, HPh-lower alkyl quaternary or atherapeutically useful salt of the compounds listed under items (a) or(b).

Particularly useful are the compounds of Formula I, in which:

(c) R₁ is hydrogen, R₂ is hydrogen or lower alkyl, Ph is 1,3- or1,4-phenylene, (lower alkyl)-1,3- or 1,4-phenylene, (lower alkoxy)-1,3-or 1,4-phenylene, (lower alkylmercapto)-1,3- or 1,4-phenylene, mono- ordi-(halogeno)-1,3- or 1,4-phenylene, (trifluoromethyl)-1,3- or1,4-phenylene, (nitro)-1,3- or 1,4-phenylene, (amino)-1,3- or1,4-phenylene or (di-lower alkylamino)-(1,3- or 1,4-phenylene, the group##STR9## is unsubstituted 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindolino or -isoindolino,4,7-dihydroindolino or -isoindolino, indolino, isoindolino,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-, 1,2,3,4,5,8-hexahydro- or1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolino or -isoquinolino or said bicyclicalkenyleneimino radicals containing one or two lower alkyl or oxo groupsin the aliphatic portion and/or in the aromatic portion one or twomembers of the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, loweralkylmercapto, halogeno, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino or di-loweralkylamino:

(d) R₁, Ph and ##STR10## have the meaning given under item (c) and R₂ is3 to 7 ring-membered cycloalkyl or cycloalkyl-lower alkyl, or a loweralkyl ester, the amide, a mono- or di-lower alkylamide, the N-oxide, analkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt or a therapeutically usefulacid addition salt of the compounds listed under item (c) and (d).

Outstanding are the compounds of Formula II ##STR11## in which:

(e) R₃ is hydrogen or alkyl with up to 4 carbon atoms, R₄ is hydrogen,alkyl, alkoxy or alkylmercapto with up to 4 carbon atoms, halogeno,trifluoromethyl, nitro or amino, and ##STR12## is unsubstitutedindolino, isoindolino or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolino or -isoquinolino,or said radicals containing one or two oxo groups attached to the carbonatoms adjacent to the nitrogen atom and/or in the aromatic portion onemember of alkyl, alkoxy or alkylmercapto with up to 4 carbon atoms,fluoro, chloro, trifluoromethyl, nitro or amino;

(f) R₄ and ##STR13## have the meaning given under item (e) and R₃ is 3or 4 ring-membered lower cycloalkyl or cycloalkylmethyl, or the methyl,ethyl, n- or i-propyl or -butyl ester, the N-oxide, sodium or potassiumsalt or a therapeutically useful acid addition salt of the compoundslisted under items (e) and (f).

Especially valuable are compounds of the Formula II, in which:

(g) R₃ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n -or i-propyl, R₄ is hydrogen,methyl, methoxy, methylmercapto, fluoro, chloro or trifluoromethyl and##STR14## is isoindolino, 1-oxoisoindolino, isoquinolino,1-oxoisoquinolino, phthalimino or homophthalimino;

(h) R₄ is ##STR15## have the meaning given under item g) and R₃ iscyclopropyl or cyclopropylmethyl, the methyl or ethyl ester, theN-oxide, sodium or potassium salt or a therapeutically useful acidaddition salt of the compounds listed under items

(g) and (h).

The most preferred embodiments of the present invention are thepropionic acids of Formula II, wherein R₃ is methyl, R₄ is hydrogen orchlorine and ##STR16## is isoindolino or 1-oxoisoindolino, or the sodiumor potassium salt or a therapeutically useful acid addition saltthereof, which exhibit in the above-described test systems at dosesbetween about 1 and 25 mg/kg/day a high order of anti-inflammatoryactivity.

The compounds of this invention are prepared according to methods knownper se. For example, they are obtained by:

(a) converting in a compound of the Formula III ##STR17## in which X₁ isa substituent capable of being converted into the free or functionallyconverted ##STR18## moiety, X₁ into said acid group or

(b) converting in a compound of Formula IV ##STR19## or a functionalderivative thereof, in which X₂ is a substituent capable of beingconverted into ##STR20## X₂ into said cyclic tert.amino group and, ifdesired, converting any resulting compound into another compound of theinvention.

According to process (a), the compounds of the invention are preparedeither by (a) introduction of the whole free or functionally convertedacid moiety ##STR21## or any part thereof (preferably the carboxylicfunction), into compounds of Formula III, or by (b) liberation of saidacid moiety from a suitable group containing already the required numberof carbon atoms, i.e. the liberation of a potential carboxy oralkylidene moiety.

Accordingly, the simplest substituent X₁ is a hydrogen atom, a metallicgroup or a reactively esterified hydroxy group. The former is, forexample, an alkali metal, e.g. a lithium atom, or a substituted alkalineearth metal, zinc or cadmium atom, such as halomagnesium or lower alkylzinc or cadmium, e.g. chloro-, bromo-or iodomagnesium, methyl or ethylzinc or cadmium. A reactively esterified hydroxy group is preferablysuch derived from a strong mineral or sulfonic acid, such as ahydrohalic, sulfuric, lower alkane or benzene sulfonic acid, e.g.hydrochloric, hydrobromic, methane-, ethane-, benzene- orp-toluenesulfonic acid. The corresponding starting material of FormulaIII is reacted with the acid having the formula ##STR22## or a suitablederivative, e.g. a corresponding salt, ester, amide or nitrile thereof,in which formulae one of X₁ and Y₁ is the above-described metallic groupand the other said reactively esterified hydroxy group, or X₁ ishydrogen and Y₁ is a free or reactively esterified hydroxy group. Suchreaction is performed according to the classical Grignard orFriedel-Crafts syntheses, in which a new carbon-carbon bond is formedfrom separate reactants. The latter synthesis is performed in thepresence of a Lewis acid, such as an aluminum, boron, antimony V, ferricor zinc salt, e.g. the chlorides thereof, or hydrofluoric, sulfuric orpreferably polyphosphoric acid, which latter agent is advantageouslyused with the above glycolic acids or their derivatives, i.e. those inwhich Y₁ is hydroxy. In case X₁ is a hydrogen atom and Ph contains afree or functionally converted γ-carboxy-2-alkenyloxy group in the orthoor para position thereto, such allyl ether starting material, e.g. thatof the formula ##STR23## can be rearranged according to the Claisen(Cope) rearrangement procedure, for example, by heating it up to about300° or less, to yield compounds of Formula I in which R₂ is loweralkenyl and Ph contains a hydroxy group ortho or para to the acidmoiety, or functional acid derivatives, e.g. esters or lactones,thereof.

The substituent X₁ in Formula III is also the group ##STR24## in whichY₂ is a metallic group, e.g. such mentioned above, an ammonium group,such as tri-lower alkylammonium or di-lower alkyl-aralkylammonium, e.g.trimethylammonium or dimethylbenzylammonium, or a free or reactivelyconverted, such as esterified, etherified or salified, hydroxy group,e.g. such esterified as mentioned above, or etherified with a loweralkanol or aralkanol, or salified with an alkali or alkaline earthmetal, e.g. sodium, potassium or calcium. Such metal compound, ester,ether or alcoholate of Formula III is reacted with a reactive derivativeof carbonic or formic acid, whereby both reactants at most contain onemetal atom. The metal or Grignard compound can be reacted with anysuitable, metal free carbonic or formic acid derivative, advantageouslycarbon dioxide or disulfide, but also a corresponding carbonate orhaloformate, e.g. diethyl carbonate or thiocarbonate; ethyl ororthocarbonate; ethyl, tert. butyl, allyl, 2-methoxyethyl,3-chloropropyl, phenyl or benzyl chloroformate; cyanogen or carbamoylhalides, e.g. cyanogen bromide or diethylcarbamoyl chloride. Thestarting material, in which Y₂ is an ammonium or free or reactivelyconverted hydroxy group, is advantageously reacted with a metal cyanide,e.g. sodium or potassium cyanide, and that in which Y₂ is free,esterified or salified hydroxy, or the dehydrated unsaturated derivativethereof (wherein X₁ is a corresponding 1-alkenyl group) can also bereacted with carbon monoxide. The latter may be applied under neutral,basic or acidic conditions respectively, e.g. in the presence ofsulfuric acid, under high pressure and/or temperature, e.g. up to 400°at and 300°, advantageously in the presence of heavy metal catalysts,e.g. nickel or cobalt salts or carbonyl derivatives thereof. The carbonmonoxide may also be generated from appropriate sources, such as formicacid and high boiling mineral acids, e.g. sulfuric or phosphoric acid.

Another substituent X₁ is the group ##STR25## wherein Y₃ is asubstituent convertible into a free or functionally converted carboxygroup. The conversion of Y₃ into the latter group can be performedeither by oxidation or rearrangement. In the former case Y₃ is, forexample, methyl, hydroxymethyl, borylmethyl, hydroxyiminomethyl, formyl,lower 1-alkenyl or 1-alkynyl, lower 1,2-dihydroxyalkyl or acyl, such aslower alkanoyl, alkenoyl, free or esterified carboxycarbonyl. In thecorresponding starting material of Formula III, containing saidpotential carboxy function, Y₃ is transformed into free or functionallyconverted carboxy according to standard oxidation methods, for example,with the use of air or pure oxygen, preferably in the presence ofcatalysts, such as silver, manganese, iron or cobalt catalysts, or withoxidation agents, e.g. hydrogen peroxide or nitric oxides, oxidizingacids or their salts, such as hypohalous, periodic, nitric orpercarboxylic acids or suitable salts thereof, e.g. sodium hypochloriteor periodate, peracetic, perbenzoic or monoperphthalic acid, heavy metalsalts or oxides, such as alkali metal chromates or permanganates;chromic or cupric salts, e.g. halides or sulfates thereof, or silver,mercuric, vanadium V, chromium VI or manganese IV oxide, in acidic oralkaline media respectively. In said oxidations, for which startingmaterials are chosen, in which ##STR26## is less sensitive to oxidationthan Y₃, e.g. aromatic bicyclic alkenyleneimino, usually the freecarboxylic acids of Formula I, or salts thereof, are obtained. However,by subjecting, for example, a hydroxyiminomethyl compound (oxime) toBeckmann rearrangement, e.g. treatment with sulfuric acid,p-toluenesulfonyl chloride or phosphorus pentachloride, or to oxidation,e.g. with hydrogen peroxide or any of said percarboxylic acids, orreacting the corresponding formyl or acyl compound (aldehyde or ketone)with hydrazoic acid according to the Schmidt reaction, e.g. in thepresence of sulfuric acid, or the aldehyde with a sulfonyl- ornitro-hydroxamate, a nitrile, amide or hydroxamic acid will be formedrespectively. A starting material in which Y₃ is free or esterifiedcarboxycarbonyl, e.g. lower carbalkoxycarbonyl, can be converted intothe acid of Formula I either by oxidation, e.g. with hydrogen peroxidein acidic media, such as mineral acids, or by decarbonylation, whichpreferably is carried out by pyrolysis, advantageously in the presenceof copper or glass powder.

Finally, the substituent X₁ in Formula III may be such a moiety, whichprimarily is capable of liberating the required alkylidene group##STR27## Such moiety is, for example, the free or functionallyconverted group ##STR28## wherein each of Y₄ or Y₅ are convertible intoR₁ and/or R₂ respectively, for example, by reduction, decarboxylation,deacylation or desulfurization. For example, Y₄ is a free or reactivelyesterified or etherified hydroxy or mercapto group as mentioned above,e.g. hydroxy, mercapto, chloro, bromo, iodo, benzyloxy orbenzylmercapto, and Y₅ a lower alkylidene, cycloalkylidene,cycloalkyl-alkylidene, oxo or thiono group. The corresponding startingmaterial, or the quaternary o- or p-quinonmethides thereof, obtainableby splitting off Y₄ H from said compounds of Formula III, in which atleast one of R₁ and R₂ is hydrogen, e.g. with the use of strong mineralacids or alkalis, can be reduced either with catalytically activated ornascent hydrogen, such as hydrogen in the presence of nickel, palladiumor platinum catalysts, or with hydrogen generated by electrolysis or theaction of metals on acids, alkalis or alcohols, such as zinc,amalgamated zinc, iron or tin on aqueous mineral or carboxylic acids,e.g. hydrochloric or acetic acid, zinc or aluminum-nickel alloys onaqueous alkali metal hydroxides, or sodium, potassium or their amalgamson lower alkanols. Also reducing and/or desulfurizing agents may beapplied, depending on the starting material chosen. In case Y₄ ishydroxy, the reducing agent may be aqueous suspension of phosphorus andiodine, hydriodic acid, stannous chloride or sodium sulfite ordithionite, or in case Y₄ is esterified hydroxy, e.g. halogeno, analiphatic or cycloaliphatic metal compound, e.g. a corresponding R₁ orR₂ lithium or Grignard compound may be used as reducing agent. Thelatter metal compounds may also be applied in the reduction of saidquinonmethides. In case Y₅ is oxo, the Clemmensen, WolffKishner orHuang-Minlon procedures may be applied, wherein nascent hydrogen orhydrazine are used, the latter advantageously in the presence of strongalkalis, e.g. high boiling aqueous or glycolic sodium or potassiumhydroxide solutions. In the reduction of mercapto, free of ketalizedthiono compounds, desulfurization agents are advantageously applied,such as mercury or copper oxide or Raney nickel. In case Y₄ representscarboxy, the corresponding malonic acid derivative is decarboxylated bypyrolysis, advantageously in acidic media, or Y₄ stands for another acylradical, such as lower alkanoyl or aralkanoyl, e.g. acetyl or benzoyl,the β-keto acid is subjected to acid splitting by the action of strongalkalis, e.g. those mentioned above.

Another substituent X₁, also providing said alkylidene group, is anunsubstituted or substituted acetyl group, e.g. --CO--(CN₂)-R₂ orCO--(CR₁,R₂)-halogen. The corresponding unsubstituted acetyl startingmaterial is converted into the compounds of the invention according tothe Willgerodt-Kindler reaction, e.g. by the action of sulfur in thepresence of ammonia, primary or secondary amines and advantageously ofsulfonic acids, e.g. p-toluenesulfonic acid, and said substituted acetylcompounds according to the Wolff (Arndt-Eistert) reaction, e.g. byhydrolysis, alcoholysis, ammonolysis or aminolysis of correspondingα-diazo-ketones, advantageously while irradiated or heated in thepresence of copper or silver catalysts, or according to the Favorskii(Wallach) reaction respectively, e.g. by the action of strong alkalis orsoluble silver salts, such as silver nitrate, on correspondingα-haloketones.

According to process (b), the cyclic tertiary amino group ##STR29## iseither (α) introduced into the phenylene moiety Ph, or (β) a primary,secondary, acyclic (open) or saturated cyclic tertiary amino group,present therein, converted into the desired unsaturated cyclic tertiaryamino group. Accordingly, X₂ is, for example, a hydrogen atom, ametallic group or a free or reactively esterified hydroxy group, e.g.those groups shown above, preferably an alkali metal or halogen atomrespectively. The corresponding starting material of Formula IV isreacted with the compound ##STR30## in which one of X₂ and Y₁ ishydrogen or said metallic group, e.g. lithium or sodium, and the othersaid free or reactively esterified hydroxy group, e.g. fluorine orchlorine. In case X₂ is hydrogen and Y₁ halogen, the reaction is carriedout analogous to the Friedel-Crafts syntheses mentioned above, i.e. inthe presence of Lewis acids or, in case Y₁ is hydroxy, in the presenceof alkalis, e.g. potassium hydroxide. In case X₂ is hydroxy or loweralkanoyloxy, the reaction is advantageously carried out in the presenceof a dehydration or dehydrogenation catalyst, such as a mineral acid ora salt thereof, e.g. hydrochloric acid, ammonium sulfite or sodiumbisulfite, activated aluminum oxide, Raney nickel or palladium-charcoal

The conversion of any primary, secondary, acyclic or saturated cyclictertiary amino group X₂ into ##STR31## can simply be performed bytransamination with the amine ##STR32## The latter is advantageouslyused in excess and in the presence or absence of catalysts, e.g. theabove-mentioned dehydration or dehydrogenation catalysts, and elevatedtemperature and/or pressure. A starting material of Formula IV, in whichX₂ is primary amino, can also be reacted with the glycol, glycolic acidor dicarboxylic acid HO-A-OH, the corresponding aldehydes orthioderivatives, advantageously reactive functional derivatives of saidalcohols, aldehydes or acids, such as esters, cyclic ethers or thedehydrated, unsaturated (olefinic derivatives thereof, e.g. a hydrohalicacid ester of the alcohols or a halide, anhydride, nitrile or lactone ofthe acid, e.g. such mentioned above. These condensations areadvantageously carried out in the presence of water or acid bindingagents, such as alkali metals, their alcoholates or carbonates, and theaddition of the unsaturated compounds to the amino group preferably inthe presence of catalysts, e.g. copper, cobalt or molybdenum catalysts,and/or acids or bases. A saturated cyclic tert. amino group X₂ can beconverted into the unsaturated ##STR33## group, for example, bydehydration, dehydrosulfidation or desamination of a bicyclic (hydroxy,mercapto, amino, ammonium, hydrazino or hydrazono)-alkyleneimino group,or reactive derivatives thereof, such as a reactive ether or ester ofthe hydroxy or mercapto compounds, or an acyl derivative of the nitrogenbases, e.g. a tert. butyl ether or a tosylate, brosylate or xanthaterespectively. Dehydration is preferably carried out with the use ofconcentrated mineral or sulfonic acids, Lewis acids or carboxylic acidanhydrides, e.g. hydrobromic, sulfuric, phosphoric or p-toluenesulfonicacid or acetic anhydride. Dehydrosulfidation may be carried out with theuse of heavy metal oxides, e.g. mercury or lead oxide and desaminationby thermal decomposition of ammonium salts. Preferably reactive estersof the hydroxy compounds or acyl derivatives of the hydrazones arepyrolyzed, advantageously under reduced pressure.

The compounds of the invention so obtained can be converted into eachother according to methods known per se. For example, resulting freeacids may be esterified with the corresponding alcohols in the presenceof a strong acid, e.g. hydrochloric, sulfuric, benzene or p-toluenesulfonic acid, or with diazo compounds, or converted into their halidesby treatment with thionyl halides or phosphorus halides or oxyhalides.Resulting esters may be hydrolyzed or transesterified in the presence ofacidic or alkaline agents, e.g. mineral or complex heavy metal acids oralkali metal carbonates or alcoholates, or treated with ammonia orcorresponding amines. Resulting acid halides may be treated withalcohols, ammonia or amines in order to obtain the corresponding estersor amides respectively. Resulting amides or thioamides (Willgerodt) canbe hydrolyzed under acidic or alkaline conditions, e.g. with the use ofaqueous mineral and/or carboxylic acids or alkali metal hydroxides alsoalcoholyzed, transaminated or desulfurized, e.g. with the use ofmercuric oxide or alkyl halides followed by hydrolysis, or oxo compoundssulfurized, e.g. with phosphorus pentasulfide. Resulting compounds whichdo not contain an oxo group in the bicyclic ##STR34## moiety can beoxidized therein already with oxygen or other mild oxidation agents,e.g. those mentioned above, to introduce an oxo group into the A-radicalthereof, preferably into one or both of the positions adjacent to theimino nitrogen, thus converting the cyclic tertiary amines into lactamesor imides respectively. Resulting nitriles likewise can be hydrolyzed oralcoholyzed, e.g. with the use of concentrated aqueous or alcoholicacids or alkalis or also with alkaline hydrogen peroxide. A resultingester, salt or nitrile, containing in α-position at least one hydrogenatom, can be metallized therein, e.g. with the use of alkali metals ortheir derivatives, such as phenyl lithium, triphenylmethylsodium orsodium hydride, amides or alcoholates, and thereupon reacted withreactive esters of R₁ -OH and/or R₂ -OH. Resulting compounds may also behalogenated in the Ph-moiety, e.g. with the use of halogens, which areadvantageously applied in the presence of Lewis acids, e.g. ferric,aluminum, antimony III or tin IV halides, or with the use ofhalogenation agents, e.g. hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide orsodium chlorate, nitrosyl chloride or bromide, bromosuccin- orphthalimide. Furthermore, nitration may be applied to final products,advantageously with the use of nitric acid or nitrates under acidicconditions, e.g. in the presence of sulfuric or trifluoroacetic acidrespectively. Resulting nitro compounds may be reduced, for example,with catalytically activated or nascent hydrogen and, if desired, theprimary amino compounds obtained, either treated with reactive esters ofcorresponding alcohols or glycols, or with reactive functional acidderivatives, in order to obtain secondary, tertiary, quaternary oracylated amino compounds respectively. Said prim. amines can also betreated with nitrous acid, to yield diazonium salts, which can beconverted according to the Sandmeyer reaction into the correspondinghydroxy, halogeno, cyano, alkoxy or alkylmercapto compounds, e.g. byhydrolyzing the diazonium salt at elevated temperatures, or reacting itwith cuprous halides or cyanide or with a lower alkanol oralkylmercaptan respectively, preferably under neutral or slightly acidicor alkaline conditions. In resulting phenolic products, the hydroxy ormercapto group can be etherified, e.g. by reacting the correspondingalkali metal phenolates with lower alkyl halides or sulfonates, orresulting phenol ethers are hydrolyzed, e.g. with the use of strongacids or acidic salts, e.g. hydrobromic and acetic acid or pyridinehydrochloride, and aliphatic hydroxy compounds can be dehydrated asshown above. In the above reductions, care should be taken or startingmaterials and final products properly selected, in order to retainunsaturation in ##STR35## .

A resulting acid can be converted into its salts according toconventional methods, for example, by reacting it with an aboutstoichiometric amount of a suitable salt-forming reagent, such asammonia, an amine or an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide,carbonate or hydrogen carbonate. A salt of this type can be reconvertedinto the free acid by treatment with an acid, e.g. hydrochloric,sulfuric or acetic acid, until the proper pH has been reached. Aresulting basic compound can be converted into a corresponding acidaddition salt, for example by reacting it with an inorganic or organicacid, such as a therapeutically useful acid, or with a correspondinganion exchange preparation, and isolating the desired salt. An acidaddition salt may be converted into the free compound by treatment witha base, e.g. a metal hydroxide, ammonia or a hydroxyl ion exchangepreparation. Therapeutically useful acids are, for example, inorganicacids, e.g. hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, phosphoric, nitric orperchloric acid, or organic acids, e.g. carboxylic or sulfonic acids,such as formic, acetic, propionic, succinic, glycollic, lactic, malic,tartaric, citric, ascorbic, maleic, hydroxymaleic, pyroracemic,phenylacetic, benzoic, 4-aminobenzoic, anthranilic, 4-hydroxybenzoic,salicylic, aminosalicylic, embonic, nicotinic, methanesulfonic,ethanesulfonic, hydroxy-ethanesulfonic, ethylenesulfonic,benzenesulfonic, halogenbenzenesulfonic, toluenesulfonic,naphthalenesulfonic and sulfanilic acid; methionine, tryptophan, lysineand arginine.

These or other salts, for example, the picrates, can also be used forpurification of the bases obtained; the bases are converted into salts,the salts are separated and the bases are liberated from the salts. Inview of the close relationship between the free compounds and thecompounds in the form of their salts, whenever a compound is referred toin this context, a corresponding salt is also intended, provided such ispossible or appropriate under the circumstances.

Resulting mixtures of isomers can be separated into the single isomersby methods in themselves known, e.g. by fractional distillation,crystallization and/or chromatography. Racemic products can likewise beresolved into the optical antipodes, for example by separation ofdiastereomeric salts thereof, e.g. by the fractional crystallization ofd- or l-tartrates or d-α-(l-naphthyl)ethylamine or l-cinchonidine salts.

The above reactions are carried out according to standard methods, inthe presence or absence of diluents, preferably such as are inert to thereagents and are solvents thereof, of catalysts, condensing orneutralizing agents and/or inert atmospheres, at low temperatures, roomtemperature or elevated temperatures, at atmospheric or superatmosphericpressure.

The invention also comprises any modification of the above process,wherein a compound resulting as an intermediate at any stage thereof, isused as starting material and the remaining steps are carried out, orthe process is discontinued at any stage thereof, or in which thestarting material is formed under the reaction conditions or is used inthe form of its salts or reactive derivatives. For example, in most ofthe above-described oxidation methods, wherein Y₃ is converted into afree or functionally converted carboxy group, the correspondingaldehydes (Y₃ is formyl) are formed intermediarily. According to thehaloform reaction (Y₃ is acetyl) intermediarily formed trihaloketonesare hydrolyzed under the applied alkaline conditions, to yield thecorresponding salts or esters of the acids of Formula I. Also, thequaternary o- or p-quinonmethides may be formed intermediarily from thecorresponding starting material in which Y₄ is free or reactivelyesterified hydroxy, e.g. under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions,or during the reduction of compounds in which Y₅ is oxo or thiono. Theα-diazoketones are usually formed, according to Arndt-Eistert, from thecorresponding benzoic acid halides and aliphatic or cycloaliphatic (R₂)diazo compounds, whereupon the above-described Wolff rearrangement isperformed. Moreover, in the formation of the cyclic tert. amino group##STR36## several intermediates are formed from the various startingmaterials mentioned above. For example, in the reaction of compounds ofFormula IV, in which X₂ is primary amino, with those of the formulaHO-A-OH or its reactive functional derivatives, usually secondary aminesor amides are formed, wherein X₂ is --NH--A--OH, or reactive aminoderivatives of such intermediates. In the process of the invention,those starting materials are advantageously selected, which yield theabove-described preferred embodiments of the invention, especially thosecorresponding to Formula II.

The starting material used is known or, if new, can be preparedaccording to the methods described for known analogs thereof, or by themethods illustrated in the examples herein. Thus, compounds of FormulaIII can be prepared analogous to the process mentioned under item (b),i.e. by introduction or construction of the cyclic amino group ##STR37##In case X₁ is a reactively esterified hydroxy group, it may also beintroduced either by halogenation, or nitration followed by reduction,diazotization and Sandmeyer reaction. The resulting starting materialmay be subsequently converted into the metallic compounds, e.g. byreaction with alkali or alkaline earth metals, such as lithium ormagnesium, or with dialkyl zinc or cadmium. The allyl ethers for Claisenrearrangement can be prepared analogous to those described in J. Chem.Soc. 4210 (1963).

The starting material in which Y₂ is a metallic group may be prepared asshown above, i.e. by reacting reactive esters of the correspondingbenzylalcohols with alkali or alkaline earth metals or dialkyl zinc orcadmium. Otherwise, according to Friedel-Crafts, easily obtainablelinear or cyclic alkano- or alkenophenones ##STR38## may be reducedeither with lithium aluminum hydride or with R₁ -magnesium halides, or##STR39## compounds reacted with R₁ --CO--R₂, to yield the correspondingbenzyl alcohols, whose hydroxy group may be reactively esterified orsalified according to well-known methods, e.g. by reaction withphosphorus, thionyl or sulfonyl halides, alkali or alkaline earth metalsrespectively and the resulting esters or salts may be converted intoethers either by reaction with alcoholates or reactive estersrespectively. The compounds in which Y₂ is an ammonium group, can beobtained from the former reactive esters and secondary amines and theresulting tertiary amines are quaternized in the usual manner, e.g. byreaction with lower alkyl or aralkyl halides.

The starting material containing Y₃ can be obtained from the formercompounds in which Y₂ is a metallic group, by reacting them with amethyl halide, formaldehyde, a formyl halide, lower alkanal, alkenal orhydroxyalkanal or a lower alkanoyl, alkenoyl or oxalyl haliderespectively and, if desired, dehydrating resulting alcohols by theaction of acidic agents, e.g. sulfuric acid or phosphorus pentoxide, toyield unsaturated derivatives thereof. The latter, e.g. methylidenecompounds, may be reacted with boranes in order to obtain borylmethylcompounds and aldehydes with hydroxylamine, to yield thehydroxyiminomethyl compounds (oximes). The aldehydes, i.e. compounds inwhich Y₃ is formyl, can also be obtained from said ketones ##STR40## byreaction with dimethylsulfoniummethylide ordimethyloxysulfoniummethylide (generated from the correspondingtrimethylsulfonium salts) and rearranging the resulting ethyleneoxidesto the corresponding aldehydes by the action of Lewis acids, e.g.p-toluene sulfonic acid or boron trifluoride, or according to theDarzens condensation by reacting the above ketones with α-halo-alkanoicor alkenoic acid esters in the presence of alcoholates, e.g. potassiumtert. butoxide, saponifying the glycidic esters formed and rearrangingand decarboxylating them, advantageously in acidic media, e.g. sulfuricacid.

The starting material containing Y₄, which represents free, esterifiedhydroxy or mercapto, can be prepared according to the cyanohydrin oranalog syntheses, e.g. by reaction of compounds ##STR41## or theirthiono analogs, with aqueous potassium cyanide under acidic conditionsand, if desired, converting resulting nitriles into other acidderivatives and/or alcohols into coresponding mercapto compounds orreactive esters or ethers thereof, or dehydrating them to unsaturatedderivatives. The compounds in which Y₅ is oxo or thiono can be obtainedaccording to Friedel-Crafts with the use of suitable ##STR42## compoundsand oxalyl halides. The resulting phenylglyoxylic acid esters may thenbe reduced with R₂ -Grignard compounds, if desired, followed bydehydration. Said compounds may also be prepared according to the Andosynthesis by reaction with mesoxalates in the presence of stannicchloride. The resulting adduct can either be hydrogenated, the malonateformed metallized and reacted with a reactive ester of R₂ -OH orsaponified and decarboxylated.

Finally the α-diazoketones are obtained from corresponding benzoic acidhalides and R₂ -diazo compounds and the α-haloketones by halogenating ofthe corresponding alkanophenones or reacting the former α-diazoketoneswith hydrohalic acids. The starting material of Formula IV is preparedanalogous to the process mentioned under item (a), by selecting startingmaterials containing X₂ or a group capable of being converted into X₂,advantageously nitro, instead of ##STR43##

The pharmacologically active compounds of the invention are useful inthe manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions containing an effectiveamount thereof in conjunction or admixture with excipients suitable foreither enteral, parenteral or topical application. Preferred are tabletsand gelatin capsules comprising the active ingredient together with (a)diluents, e.g. lactose, dextrose, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, celluloseand/or glycine, (b) lubricants, e.g. silica, talcum, stearic acid, itsmagnesium or calcium salt and/or polyethyleneglycol, for tablets also(c) binders, e.g. magnesium aluminum silicate, starch paste, gelatin,tragacanth, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and/orpolyvinylpyrrolidone, if desired, (d) disintegrants, e.g. starches,agar, alginic acid or its sodium salt, enzymes of the binders oreffervescent mixtures and/or (e) adsorbents, colorants, flavors andsweeteners. Injectable compositions are preferably aqueous isotonicsolutions or suspensions, and suppositories or ointments areadvantageously fatty emulsions or suspensions. They may be sterilizedand/or contain adjuvants, such as preserving, stabilizing, wetting oremulsifying agents, solution promotors, salts for regulating the osmoticpressure and/or buffers. Said pharmaceutical compositions may alsocontain other therapeutically valuable substances. They are preparedaccording to conventional mixing, granulating or coating methodsrespectively and contain about 0.1 to 75%, preferably about 1 to 50% ofthe active ingredient.

The following examples are intended to illustrate the invention and arenot to be construed as being limitations thereon. Temperatures are givenin degrees Centigrade, and all parts wherever given are parts by weight.

EXAMPLE 1

The mixture of 10 g ethyl 4-aminophenylacetate, 16.4 gα,α'-dibromo-o-xylene, 17.8 g sodium carbonate and 250 mldimethylformamide is refluxed for 6 hours while stirring. After cooling,it is diluted with water, extracted with diethyl ether, the extractwashed with water, dried, filtered, evaporated and the residuerecrystallized from diethyl ether, to yield the ethyl4-isoindolinophenylacetate of the formula ##STR44## melting at118°-120°.

EXAMPLE 2

The mixture of 13.2 g ethyl α-(3-chloro-4-aminophenyl)propionatehydrochloride, 7.4 g phthalic anhydride, 10.1 g triethylamine and 200 mltoluene is refluxed for 6 hours and evaporated in vacuo. The residue istaken up in water, the mixture extracted with diethyl ether, the extractdried, filtered, evaporated and the residue recrystallized from diethylether, to yield the ethylα-[3-chloro-4-(1,3-dioxo-isoindolino)-phenyl]-propionate of the formula##STR45## melting at 107°-110°.

The starting material is prepared as follows:

To the solution of 52 g of ethyl 4-nitrophenylacetate in 350 mldimethylformamide-toluene (1:1), 9.5 g of 50% sodium hydride in mineraloil are added portionwise while stirring and cooling, After 11/2 hoursstirring at room temperature, 26 g methyl iodide are added dropwise andthe mixture is stirred overnight at room temperature. The mixture iscarefully combined with water, extracted with diethyl ether, the extractdried, filtered and evaporated. The residue is taken up in 100 mlethanol, the solution seeded with a few crystals starting material andallowed to stand in the cold. The precipitate formed is filtered off andthe filtrate evaporated, to yield the ethylα-(4-nitrophenyl)-propionate.

50 g thereof are hydrogenated in 200 ml 95% aqueous ethanol over 0.4 gpalladium on charcoal until the hydrogen uptake ceases. The mixture isfiltered and the filtrate evaporated, to yield the ethylα-(4-aminophenyl)-propionate; (its hydrochloride melts at 137°-140°). 25g thereof are combined with 100 ml acetic acid anhydride while stirringand cooling and the mixture is allowed to stand for one hour at roomtemperature. It is evaporated in vacuo and the residue recrystallizedfrom diethyl ether, to yield the ethylα-(4-acetylaminophenyl)-propionate melting at 88°-90°.

Through the solution of 25 g thereof in 100 ml acetic acid, chlorine isbubbled while stirring and cooling and the course of chlorination isfollowed by a thin layer chromatography on silica gel in hexane-diethylether (1:4). After the consumption of starting material, the mixture isevaporated in vacuo, the residue taken up in 150 ml ethanol and hydrogenchloride is bubbled through the solution for 45 minutes. After refluxingfor 15 hours, it is evaporated and the residue recrystallized fromethanoldiethyl ether, to yield the ethylα-(3-chloro-4-aminophenyl)-propionate hydrochloride, melting at164°-168°.

EXAMPLE 3

The mixture of 4.6 g ethyl 4-isoindolinophenylacetate and 80 ml 25%aqueous sodium hydroxide is refluxed for 3 hours, cooled and dilutedwith water. The mixture is acidified with hydrochloric acid, theprecipitate formed filtered off and recrystallized from ethyl acetate,to yield the 4-isoindolinophenylacetic acid melting at 237°-239°.

EXAMPLE 4

The mixture of 10 g ethyl α-(4-aminophenyl)-propionate hydrochloride, 15g α,α'-dibromo-o-xylene, 16.5 g sodium carbonate and 250 mldimethylformamide is refluxed for 5 hours while stirring. After cooling,it is filtered, the filtrate concentrated in vacuo, the concentratediluted with water, extracted with diethyl ether, the extract washedwith water, dried, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The precipitateformed is filtered off and recrystallized from ethanol. It is taken upin the minimum amount of benzene, the solution poured on a small columnwith silica gel and eluated with benzene. The first eluate is evaporatedand the residue recrystallized from ethanol, to yield the ethylα-(4-isoindolinophenyl)-propionate of the formula ##STR46## melting at111°-113°.

The mixture of 1.8 g thereof, 5 ml 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide, 15 mlwater and 100 ml ethanol is refluxed for 11/2 hour and concentrated invacuo. The concentrate is diluted with water, the suspension obtainedacidified with 6 N hydrochloric acid to pH 3 and the mixture extractedwith ethyl acetate. The extract is dried, filtered, evaporated in vacuoand the residue recrystallized from ethyl acetate, to yield theα-(4-isoindolinophenyl)-propionic acid melting at 247°-250°.

EXAMPLE 5

The mixture of 5 g ethyl 4-aminophenylacetate, 4.9 g homophthalicanhydride, 100 ml toluene and 0.5 ml triethylamine is refluxed overnightat the water trap and evaporated in vacuo. The residue is recrystallizedfrom ethanol with the use of charcoal, to yield the ethyl4-(1,3-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolino)-phenyl-acetate of theformula ##STR47## melting at 89°-91°.

Analogously, the ethyl4-(4,5,6,7,-tetrachlorophthalimino)-phenyl-acetate is prepared, m.p.197°-199°.

EXAMPLE 6

To the solution of 0.5 g ethyl α-(4-isoindolinophenyl)-propionate in 50ml glacial acetic acid, 6 ml of glacial acetic acid saturated withchlorine are added dropwise while stirring and the mixture is evaporatedin vacuo. The residue is taken up in aqueous sodium bicarbonate, themixture extracted with diethyl ether, the extract dried, filtered andevaporated. The residue is chromatographed on silica gel usingbenzene-hexane (1:1) as the mobile phase, to yield as the major productthe ethyl α-(3-chloro-4-isoindolinophenyl)-propionate of the formula##STR48## moving 30 mm (as compared to 26 mm for the starting material)and a minor portion of the ethylα-(3,5-dichloro-4-isoindolinophenyl)-propionate of the formula ##STR49##moving 39.5 mm in said system.

EXAMPLE 7

The mixture of 24 g ethyl α-(4-amino-3-chlorophenyl)-butyrate, 19.8 gethyl 2-chloromethylbenzoate, 15 ml triethylamine and 300 ml ethanol isallowed to stand overnight and slowly evaporated. The residue is takenup in water, the mixture extracted with diethyl ether, the extractwashed with 5% hydrochloric acid and water, dried, filtered andevaporated. The residue is distilled and the fraction boiling at230°-240°/0.35 mm Hg collected, to yield the ethylα-[3-chloro-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-butyrate of the formula##STR50##

It is taken up in 250 ml ethanol, 100 ml 10% aqueous potassium carbonateare added and the mixture slowly evaporated in vacuo. The residue istaken up in water, the solution filtered, the pH of the filtrateadjusted to 4 with hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate.The extract is washed with water, dried and concentrated, to yield theα-[3-chloro-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-butyric acid, melting at191°-193°.

The starting material is prepared as follows: To the mixture of 104 gethyl 4-nitrophenyl-acetate, 350 ml dimethylformamide and 350 mltoluene, 19 g 50% sodium hydride in mineral oil are added during 3/4hour at 10° while stirring. After 11/2 hours, 78 g ethyl iodide areadded during 1 hour while stirring. After 11/2 hours, some water isadded dropwise and the mixture acidified with 10% hydrochloric acid. Themixture is extracted with diethyl ether, the extract dried andevaporated, to yield the ethyl α-(4-nitrophenyl)-butyrate.

The mixture of 115 g thereof, 400 ml 95% ethanol and 1.5 g palladium oncharcoal is hydrogenated at 3 at. and room temperature. After thehydrogen uptake has ceased, the mixture is filtered, the filtrateevaporated, the residue taken up in 2 N hydrochloric acid, the solutionwashed with diethyl ether, made basic with aqueous sodium hydroxide,extracted with diethyl ether and the extract evaporated, to yield theethyl α-(4-aminophenyl)-butyrate.

The mixture of 35 g thereof and 100 ml acetic anhydride is stirred for 1hour at the steam bath and evaporated, to yield the ethylα-(4-acetylaminophenyl)-butyrate.

Through the solution of 35 g thereof in 200 ml acetic acid, chlorine isbubbled at 15°-20° while stirring and the course of the reactionfollowed by thin layer chromatography on silica gel in hexane-diethylether (1:4). After the consumption of starting material, the mixture isevaporated, to yield the ethyl α-(4-acetylamino-3-chlorophenyl)-butyratehydrochloride.

Through the solution of 36 g thereof in 200 ml ethanol, hydrogenchloride is bubbled through while stirring for 45 minutes. The mixtureis refluxed for 20 hours, allowed to stand for 24 hours at roomtemperature and evaporated. The residue is taken up in water, thesolution made basic with aqueous sodium hydroxide, extracted withdiethyl ether, the extract dried, evaporated, the residue distilled andthe fraction boiling at 130°-132°/0.4 mm Hg collected, to yield theethyl α-(4-amino-3-chlorophenyl)-butyrate.

EXAMPLE 8

The mixture of 0.63 g methylα-cyclopropyl-(4-amino-3-chlorophenyl)-acetate hydrochloride, 0.49 gethyl 2-chloromethylbenzoate, 15 ml triethylamine and 300 ml ethanol isallowed to stand overnight and slowly evaporated. The residue is takenup in water, the mixture extracted with diethyl ether, the extractwashed with 5% hydrochloric acid and water, dried, filtered andevaporated. The residue is distilled and the fraction boiling at225°-235°/0.33 mm Hg collected to yield the ethylα-cyclopropyl-[3-chloro-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-acetate of theformula ##STR51##

It is taken up in 250 ml ethanol, 100 ml 10% aqueous potassium carbonateare added and the mixture slowly evaporated in vacuo. The residue istaken up in water, the solution filtered, the pH of the filtrateadjusted to 4 with hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate.The extract is washed with water, dried and concentrated, to yield theα-cyclopropyl-[3-chloro-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-acetic acid meltingat 242°-245°.

The starting material is prepared as follows: To the solution of 200 gα-cyclopropyl-phenylacetic acid in 1.2 liters trifluoroacetic acid, themixture of 73 ml 70% aqueous nitric acid and 9.1 ml 96% aqueous sulfuricacid is added dropwise while stirring and cooling to about 3°. After11/2 hours, the temperature is allowed to rise to room temperature andthe mixture stirred for a total of 3 additional hours. It is droppedonto 3.2 kg ice and 300 ml water while stirring, filtered, the residuewashed with 6 liters water and dried, to yield an about 2:1 mixture ofα-cyclopropyl-(4- and 2-nitrophenyl)-acetic acid.

The mixture of 50 g thereof, 5 g to 10% palladium on charcoal and 550 ml95% aqueous ethanol is hydrogenated at atmospheric pressure until 15.9liters hydrogen have been consumed. It is filtered, the filtrateconcentrated, the precipitate formed in the cold separated andrecrystallized once more from ethanol, to yield the pureα-cyclopropyl-(4-aminophenyl)-acetic acid.

To the mixture of 10 g thereof and 75 ml methanol, 75 ml saturatedmethanolic hydrogen chloride are added while stirring and cooling in anice bath. After 1/2 hour, the mixture is heated to 38° for 1 hour andstirred at room temperature overnight. It is cooled, combined with 100ml water and 105 ml 20% aqueous sodium hydroxide are added while coolingand stirring. The precipitate formed is filtered off, washed with waterand dried, to yield the methyl α-cyclopropyl-(4-aminophenyl)-acetate,melting at 68°-69°.

The mixture of 12 g thereof and 100 ml acetic anhydride is stirred for 1hour at the steam bath and evaporated. The residue is taken up inbenzene and the mixture again evaporated, to yield the methylα-cyclopropyl-(4-acetylaminophenyl-acetate melting at 159°-162°.

To the solution of 1.6 g thereof in 50 ml acetic acid, 30 ml of asaturated solution of chlorine in acetic acid is added dropwise whilestirring and the mixture evaporated in vacuo. The residue is taken up 2times in benzene and the mixture evaporated, to yield the methylα-cyclopropyl-(4-acetylamino-3-chlorophenyl)-acetate.

Through the solution of 1.6 g thereof in 200 ml methanol, hydrogenchloride is bubbled for 15 minutes and the mixture refluxed for 21hours. It is evaporated in vacuo, the residue taken up in 6 Nhydrochloric acid, the mixture washed with diethyl ether, made basicwith aqueous sodium hydroxide and extracted with diethyl ether. Theextract is dried, evaporated, the residue taken up in diethyl ether, thesolution acidified with ethereal hydrogen chloride and the precipitateformed filtered off, to yield the methylα-cyclopropyl-(4-amino-3-chlorophenyl)-acetate hydrochloride melting at164°-169°.

EXAMPLE 9

The mixture of 12 g ethyl α-(4-amino-3-chlorophenyl)-propionate, 11.6 gα,α'-dibromo-o-xylene, 17 g sodium carbonate and 250 mldimethylformamide is refluxed for 6 hours under nitrogen. After coolingit is filtered, the filtrate diluted with water, extracted with diethylether, the extract washed with water, dried, filtered and evaporated.The residue is distilled and the fraction boiling at 190°-200°/0.4 mmHgcollected, to yield the ethylα-(3-chloro-4-isoindolinophenyl)-propionate (m.p. 67°-70°), which isidentical with that obtained according to Example 6.

The starting material can also be prepared as follows: 4.8 g 50% sodiumhydride in mineral oil are added to 100 ml hexamethylphosphoramide whilestirring under nitrogen. Hereupon 17.1 g diethyl α-methylmalonate areadded and the mixture slowly heated to 100°. The solution of 19.2 g2,4-dichloro-nitrobenzene in 20 ml hexamethylphosphoramide is addeddropwise during 1/2 hour and the temperature kept at 100° for sevenhours. After cooling, the mixture is diluted with water, concentrated invacuo, the residue taken up in water and extracted with benzene. Theextract is washed with water, dried, filtered, evaporated, the residuedistilled and the fraction boiling at 147°-148°/0.25 mm Hg collected, toyield the diethyl α-methyl-α-(3-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-malonate. (Theanalogously prepared diethyl α-ethyl-α-(3-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-malonateboils at 170°-174°/1 mm Hg.)

Through the solution of 4 g thereof in 50 ml anhydrous ethanol, hydrogenchloride is bubbled for 5 minutes. Hereupon 0.5 g 10% palladium oncharcoal are added and the mixture hydrogenated for 10 minutes at aninitial pressure of 3 at. It is filtered and the filtrate evaporated invacuo. The residue is taken up in 5% aqueous sodium hydroxide, themixture extracted with diethyl ether, the extract dried, filtered andevaporated, to yield the diethylα-methyl-α-(3-chloro-4-aminophenyl)-malonate, showing in the I.R.spectrum bands at 1720, 3370 and 3460 cm⁻¹.

The mixture of 75 g thereof and 150 ml 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide isrefluxed overnight, cooled, diluted with water and washed with diethylether. It is acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid, the mixtureagain refluxed overnight and evaporated in vacuo. The residue is takenup in anhydrous ethanolic hydrogen chloride, the mixture refluxed for 6hours, evaporated and the residue recrystallized from ethanol-diethylether, to yield the ethyl α-(3-chloro-4-aminophenyl)-propionatehydrochloride melting at 164°-168°.

EXAMPLE 10

The mixture of 22.8 g ethyl α-(4-amino-3-chlorophenyl)propionate, 19.8 gethyl 2-chloromethylbenzoate, 15 ml triethylamine and 300 ml ethanol isallowed to stand overnight and slowly evaporated. The residue is takenup in water, the mixture extracted with diethyl ether, the extractwashed with 5% hydrochloric acid and water, dried, filtered andevaporated. The residue is taken up in 250 ml ethanol, 100 ml 10%aqueous potassium carbonate are added and the mixture slowly evaporatedin vacuo. The residue is taken up in water, the solution filtered, thepH of the filtrate adjusted to 4 with hydrochloric acid and extractedwith ethyl acetate. The extract is washed with water, dried andconcentrated, to yield theα-[3-chloro-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionic acid of the formula##STR52## melting at 161°-163°.

The ethyl ester thereof can also be prepared by bubbling air through aconcentrated solution of the compounds of Examples 6 or 9 indimethylformamide for 2 hours at 60° while stirring. The mixture isevaporated in vacuo, the residue distilled and the fraction boiling at200°-210°/0.4 mm Hg collected.

EXAMPLE 11

According to the methods described in the previous examples, thefollowing compounds are prepared from equivalent amounts of thecorresponding starting materials:

(a) α-[3-chloro-4-(5-chloro-1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionic acid;

(b) α-[3-chloro-4-(6-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridyl)-phenyl]-propionic acid;

(c) α-[3-chloro-4-(5- or 7-oxo-6-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridyl)-phenyl]propionicacid;

(d) α-[3-chloro-4-(5,7-dioxo-6-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridyl)-phenyl]-propionicacid, the methyl or ethyl esters thereof, or the sodium or potassiumsalts thereof.

EXAMPLE 12

The mixture of 1 g ethyl α-(3-chloro-4-isoindolinophenyl)propionate, 50ml ethanol and 15 ml 20% aqueous potassium carbonate is refluxed for 1hour and evaporated in vacuo. The residue is taken up in water, themixture acidified with 6 N hydrochloric acid to pH=3 and the mixtureextracted with ethyl acetate. The extract is dried, filtered, evaporatedand the residue recrystallized from ethyl acetate, to yield theα-(3-chloro-4-isoindolinophenyl)propionic acid melting at 148°-150°.

EXAMPLE 13

Replacing the ethyl 2-chloromethylbenzoate in Example 10 by theequivalent amount of 2-chloromethylbenzoyl chloride and following theprocedure given in said example, one obtains a more pureα-[3-chloro-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionic acid melting at178°-180°; its ethyl ester melts at 111°-113°.

EXAMPLE 14

The mixture of 18.4 g of 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-phthalic acid anhydride,17.9 g of ethyl 4-aminophenylacetate and 200 ml of methylene chloride isrefluxed for 1 day and evaporated. The residual ethyl4-(2-carboxy-4-cyclohexenylcarbamoyl)-phenylacetate is taken up in 100ml of acetic acid anhydride, the mixture refluxed for 2 hours andevaporated. The residue is taken up in water, the mixture extracted withdiethyl ether, the extract washed with water, dried, evaporated and theresidue recrystallized from diethyl ether, to yield the ethyl4-(1,3-dioxo-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydroisoindolino)-phenylacetate of theformula ##STR53## melting at 82°-83°.

EXAMPLE 15

The mixture of 7.9 g of ethyl α-(4-aminophenyl)-propionate and 8.3 g ofethyl 2-chloromethylbenzoate is refluxed under nitrogen for one hour.The residue is recrystallized from hexane, to yield the ethylα-[4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionate of the formula ##STR54##melting at 104°-106°.

The mixture of 4.5 g thereof, 1.6 g of potassium hydroxide, 2 ml ofwater and 250 ml of ethanol is refluxed under nitrogen for two hours andevaporated under reduced pressure. The residue is taken up in water, thesolution washed with chloroform, acidified with hydrochloric acid andextracted with ethyl acetate. The extract is dried, evaporated and theresidue recrystallized from ethyl acetate, to yield the correspondingfree acid melting at 208°-210°.

In the analogous manner, the ethyl 4-(1-oxoisoindolino)phenylacetate,m.p. 111°-114° and the corresponding free acid, m.p. 206°-208°, areprepared.

EXAMPLE 16

The mixture of 24 g of ethylα-[4-(3-oxo-isobenzofuran-1-ylamino)-phenyl]-propionate, 5.3 g sodiumborohydride and 4 ml of ethanol is refluxed for one hour while stirringand allowed to stand overnight at room temperature. It is diluted withwater, the pH thereof adjusted to 5.6 with hydrochloric acid and thesolution extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract is dried, filteredand evaporated, to yield the ethylα-[4-(1-oxisoindolino)phenyl]propionate, melting at 106°-109°. It isidentical with that obtained according to Example 15. The startingmaterial is prepared as follows:

The mixture of 17.7 g of ethyl α-(4-aminophenyl)-propionate, 15 g of2-carboxy-benzaldehyde, 50 mg of p-toluenesulfonic acid and 400 ml oftoluene is refluxed for two days on a water trap. After collection ofthe theoretical amount of water (1.9 ml), it is concentrated and theprecipitate formed recrystallized from ethanol, to yield the ethylα-[4-(3-oxo-isobenzofuran-1-ylamino)-phenyl]propionate, melting at136°-139°.

EXAMPLE 17

The mixture of α-[4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionyl chloride, 0.9 gof 4-chloro-aniline, 1.5 g of triethylamine and 100 ml of benzene isrefluxed for one hour, filtered and the filtrate washed with water. Itis dried, evaporated and the residue recrystallized from acetonitrile,to yield theN-(4-chlorophenyl)α-[4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionamide of theformula ##STR55## melting at 240°-242°.

The starting material is prepared as follows: The mixture of 2.0 g ofα-[4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionic acid and 25 ml of thionylchloride is refluxed for a half hour under nitrogen and evaporated underreduced pressure. The residue is taken up two times in benzene and themixture again evaporated, to yield the corresponding acid chloride,melting at 129°-132°.

EXAMPLE 18

Analogous to the method described in the previous examples,advantageously according to Examples 8, 15 or 16 respectively, thefollowing compounds of Formula II are obtained: ##STR56##

    ______________________________________                                        R.sub.3   m.p. acid     m.p. ester                                            ______________________________________                                                  186-188°                                                                             CH.sub.3, 98-101°                              "         --            C.sub.2 H.sub.5, 111-113°                      CH.sub.3  --            CH.sub.3, 129-132°                             "         --            n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7, 87-89°                      "         --            i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7, 118-121°                    "         --            i-C.sub.4 H.sub.9, 110-113°                    ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 19

The mixture of 6 g of 2-(3-chloro-4-isoindolinophenyl)propanol, 4 g ofsodium hydroxide and 50 ml of water is added to the stirred suspensionprepared from 6.5 g of silver nitrate, 1.8 g of sodium hydroxide and 60ml of water. After 3 hours, the mixture is filtered, the pH of thefiltrate adjusted to 5.5 with hydrochloric acid and extracted withdiethyl ether. The extract is washed with water, dried, filtered,evaporated and the residue recrystallized from ethyl acetate, to yieldthe α-(3-chloro-4-isoindolinophenyl)-propionic acid, melting at148°-150°.

The starting material is prepared as follows: The mixture of 68 g4-aminoacetophenone and 100 ml acetic anhydride is refluxed for 2 hours.The excess acetic anhydride is removed by distillation and the residueis dissolved in acetic acid. Chlorine is passed into the above solutionuntil one equivalent is taken up and the reaction mixture is evaporated,to yield the 4-acetylamino-3-chloro-acetophenone.

The solution of 106 g thereof in 200 ml tetrahydrofuran is addeddropwise in a nitrogen atmosphere to methyl magnesium iodide (preparedfrom 13.4 g of magnesium turnings and 78.1 g methyl iodide in 300 mltetrahydrofuran). The resulting mixture is refluxed for 18 hours, and oncooling 200 ml 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid is added and the mixtureheated for an additional 2 hours. The tetrahydrofuran is distilled offand water is added to the residue. The aqueous mixture is extracted withdiethyl ether and the ether extract is dried and evaporated. The residueis combined with 100 ml acetic anhydride and warmed on the steam bathfor 1 hour. The solvent is distilled off azeotropically with toluene, togive the 2-(3-chloro-4-acetylaminophenyl)-propene.

To the solution of 80 g thereof in 100 ml of diethyleneglycol dimethylether, the mixture of 15 g sodium borohydride, 61 g borontrifluorideetherate and 100 ml diethyleneglycol dimethylether is added whilestirring under nitrogen at 0°. The reaction mixture is warmed up to 25°and stirred for 2 hours. Ice chips are added to hydrolyze the excessdiborane. On cooling, 100 ml 3 N aqueous sodium hydroxide are added,followed by 50 ml 30% hydrogen peroxide over a period of 1 hour to theabove mixture. After stirring for 2 hours at room temperature, thelayers are separated and the aqueous layer extracted with diethyl ether.The combined ether extracts are evaporated and the residue dissolved in100 ml ethanol and 100 ml 3 N aqueous sodium hydroxide. The resultingmixture is refluxed for 2 hours, cooled, extracted with diethyl ether,the extract dried and evaporated, to give the2-(3-chloro-4-aminophenyl)-propanol.

70 g thereof is heated at 100° for 4 hours with 55 gα,α'-dibromo-o-xylene, 71 g sodium carbonate and 300 mldimethylformamide. The mixture is filtered, the filtrate evaporatedunder reduced pressure and the residue recrystallized from diethylether, to yield the 2-(3-chloro-4-isoindolinophenyl)-propanol.

In the analogous manner, the following alcohols are prepared:2-(4-isoindolinophenyl)-propanol, m.p. 189°-192° and2-[4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propanol, m.p. 129°-131°.

EXAMPLE 20

Analogous to the manner described in the previous examples,advantageously according to Examples 10, 13, 15 and 16, the followingcompounds are obtained from equivalent amounts of the correspondingstarting materials:

(a) α-[3-methyl-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionic acid m.p.203°-207° (ethanol-diethyl ether) or its ethyl ester m.p. 121°-123°(diethyl ether);

(b) α-[3-methoxy-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionic acid m.p.221°-224° (ethanol) or its ethyl ester m.p. 154°-156° (ethyl acetate);

(c) α-[3-methylmercapto-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionic acid m.p.214°-217° (ethyl acetate) or its ethyl ester m.p. 146°-149° (ethylacetate) and

(d) α-[3-trifluoromethyl-4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-propionic acidm.p. 181°-184° (diethyl ether) or its ethyl ester m.p. 123°-125°(diethyl ether).

The starting material for the above four compounds is prepared similarlyand is illustrated for (d) as follows: 23 g of 50% sodium hydride inmineral oil are washed with hexane and the washings are decanted off.Thereupon 160 ml of dimethylformamide-toluene (1:4) are added followedby 83.6 of diethyl α-methylmalonate in 200 ml ofdimethylformamide-toluene (1:4), which solution is added dropwise whilestirring under nitrogen and cooling with ice. After stirring for 30minutes at room temperature, 100 g of4-chloro-2-trifluoromethyl-nitrobenzene in 100 ml of toluene are addedduring one hour and the mixture is stirred overnight at roomtemperature. Thereupon 200 ml of water are slowly added while cooling,the mixture extracted with diethyl ether, the extract evaporated, theresidue distilled and the fraction boiling at 210°-230°/0.55 mm Hgcollected, to yield the diethylα-methyl-α-(3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenyl)-malonate. The corresponding3-(methyl, methoxy and methylmercapto)-analogs are boiling at110°-120°/0.2 mm Hg, 155°-170°/0.1 mm Hg or 163°-165°/0.08 mm Hg.

The mixture of 90 g of the trifluoromethyl analog, 106.2 g of ironfilings, 10.3 g of ammonium chloride, 417 ml of ethanol and 104 ml ofwater is heated on the steam bath for two hours while stirring. It isevaporated under reduced pressure, the residue taken up in 700 ml ofbenzene, the mixture filtered, the residue washed with 200 ml ofchloroform, the combined filtrate dried, evaporated, the residuedistilled and the fraction boiling at 164°-170°/0.4 mm Hg collected, toyield the diethyl α-methyl-α-(3-trifluoromethyl-4-aminophenyl)-malonate.

The mixture of 53 g thereof, 25.2 g of potassium hydroxide, 1.5 litersof ethanol and 30 ml of water is refluxed for four hours under nitrogen.It is concentrated under reduced presure, the concentrate diluted withwater, washed with diethyl ether and the pH thereof adjusted withhydrochloric acid to 4.2. It is extracted with diethyl ether, theextract dried, evaporated, the residue distilled and the fractionboiling at 187°-197°/0.15 mm Hg collected, to yield theα-(3-trifluoromethyl-4-aminophenyl)propionic acid melting at 73°-75°.

30 g thereof are dissolved in 500 ml of anhydrous ethanol and throughthe solution hydrogen chloride is bubbled for 1/2 hour. It is heated onthe steam cone for three hours, evaporated, the residue distilled andthe fraction boiling at 90°-97°/0.06 mm Hg collected, to yield thecorresponding ethyl ester.

EXAMPLE 21

Preparation of 10,000 tablets each containing 25.0 mg of the activeingredient:

    ______________________________________                                        Formula:                                                                      ______________________________________                                        α-[4-(1-oxoisoindolino)-phenyl]-                                        propionic acid         250.00   g                                             Lactose                1,956.00 g                                             Corn starch            90.00    g                                             Polyethylene glycol 6,000                                                                            90.00    g                                             Talcum powder          90.00    g                                             Magnesium stearate     24.00    g                                             Purified water         q.s.                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

All the powders are passed through a screen with openings of 0.6 mm.Then the drug substance, lactose, talcum, magnesium stearate and half ofthe starch are mixed in a suitable mixer. The other half of the starchis suspended in 45 ml of water and the suspension added to the boilingsolution of the polyethylene glycol in 180 ml of water. The paste formedis added to the powders which are granulated, if necessary, with anadditional amount of water. The granulate is dried overnight at 35°,broken on a screen with 1.2 mm openings and compressed into tabletsusing concave punches with 7.1 mm diameter, uppers bisected.

In the analogous manner, tablets can be prepared containing the sameamount of another preferred drug substance, e.g. such corresponding toFormula II.

EXAMPLE 22

Preparation of 10,000 capsules each containing 25 mg or 100 mg of theactive ingredient:

    ______________________________________                                        Formula:                                                                      ______________________________________                                        α-(4-isoindolinophenyl)-                                                propionic acid      250 g   1,000 g                                           Microcrystalline cellulose                                                                        1,080 g 1,200 g                                           Hardened vegetable oil                                                        fraction melting at 65-80°                                                                 20 g    50 g                                              ______________________________________                                    

Procedure:

All the powders are passed through a screen with openings of 0.6 mm.Then the drug substance is placed in a suitable mixer and mixed firstwith the oil fraction and then with the cellulose until homogeneous. 135or 250 mg of the mixture are filled into 0.3 or 0.5 ml hard gelatinecapsules, using a capsule filling machine.

Said capsule compositions can also be prepared from the other compoundsillustrated in the previous examples, especially those corresponding toFormula II.

What is claimed is:
 1. The treatment of pains, said treatment comprisingadministering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeuticallyeffective amount of α-[4-(1-oxoisoindolino)phenyl]-propionic acid. 2.The treatment of pains, said treatment comprising administering to apatient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount ofα-[4-(1-oxoisoindolino)phenyl]-propionic acid together with apharmaceutical excipient.
 3. The treatment as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid therapeutically effective amount is about 0.1 and 75 mg/kg/day. 4.The treatment as claimed in claim 2 wherein said therapeuticallyeffective amount is about 0.1 and 75 mg/kg/day.